Investigation Reveals Teen Shooter's Gun Not Responsible for Seattle Festival Deaths

WHO:

KOMO - Junior Niko-Semo, 19, had previously been arrested in connection to a shooting in Seattle in 2024.

CNN - The 15-year-old shooter is not named but is referred to as the teen arrested at the scene.

AP News - The deceased bystanders were identified as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, and Ashley Whitehead, 56. The 19-year-old suspect killed in the gunbattle was Junior Cee Niko Semo.

WHAT:

KOMO - Niko-Semo was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a bump-fire stock in 2024.

KOMO - One of the guns recovered at the Bite of Seattle shooting was equipped with a Glock switch, which enables the weapon to fire fully automatic.

KOMO - An illegal handgun, a Polymer 80 9mm, was found on the 15-year-old boy arrested at the scene.

CNN - The 15-year-old was charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement and unlawful possession of a handgun by someone under 18.

AP News - Three people died in the shooting, including the 19-year-old gunman, and at least four people were injured, including a toddler.

AP News - Preliminary testing showed that the bullets that killed the two bystanders did not come from the gun fired by the 15-year-old.

AP News - Shell casings found at the scene indicated that four weapons were fired during the shootout.

WHERE:

CNN - The shooting occurred at the Bite of Seattle festival near the Space Needle in Seattle.

AP News - The event took place at Seattle Center, a sprawling park.

WHEN:

CNN - The shooting occurred during the waning hours of the three-day Bite of Seattle festival.

AP News - The King County prosecutor’s office filed charges on a Wednesday.

WHY:

CNN - Authorities believe the violence was gang-related.

HOW:

KOMO - The Glock found with Niko-Semo was equipped with an extended-round magazine and a Glock switch, which is prohibited by federal law.

CNN - The 15-year-old was seen firing an untraceable ghost gun into a crowd.

AP News - The teen shot multiple times toward another suspect after unzipping a bag that was strapped around his torso.

(UPDATED July 30, 2026 13:34 UTC)

Niko-Semo, a 19-year-old who had previously been arrested in connection with a shooting in Seattle in 2024, is facing serious charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a bump-fire stock. During the investigation of the Bite of Seattle shooting, authorities recovered a gun equipped with a Glock switch, allowing it to fire fully automatic, along with an illegal Polymer 80 9mm handgun found on a 15-year-old boy arrested at the scene. The Glock in Niko-Semo's possession was also fitted with an extended-round magazine and a Glock switch, which is prohibited by federal law.

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(UPDATED July 30, 2026 02:52 UTC)

A tragic shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival near the Space Needle has left three people dead, including the 19-year-old gunman, Junior Cee Niko Semo, and two bystanders, Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba and Ashley Whitehead. A 15-year-old, referred to as the teen arrested at the scene, has been charged with first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a handgun, while preliminary tests indicate that the bullets that killed the bystanders did not come from his weapon. Authorities believe the violence was gang-related, and shell casings found at the scene suggest that four different firearms were discharged during the incident.